What Can I Do - SEEK HIM FIRST - MATT. 6:33

This is Namma for Christ with the forty-fifth inspirational message dated Wednesday, January 15th, 2014.  The title of this message is, "What Can I DO - SEEK HIM FIRST - MATT. 6:33".  This message is based on the below scripture text in Matthew as found in the New Testament  (NKJV):

Matthew 6:33

New King James Version (NKJV)

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The supporting text for this scripture verse is provided below:  from Matthew 6:25 - 34 (PLEASE READ):

New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
 ³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The scripture above is part of what Jesus said in His "Sermon on the Mount" beginning in Matthew 5.
Our lesson today highlights Matthew 6:33 - where Jesus instructs those who follow Him to SEEK GOD FIRST! 

Many times in life, we don't realize God is waiting for us to turn to HIM for ALL THAT WE NEED! God is our sufficiency! He gave us Jesus as our Savior and our Intercessor: John 14:6 states: 

John 14:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Let us also look at a few verses : Luke 15: 17 & 18 (below) found in the story of  "the prodigal son" (Luke 15:11- 32)  - where "the prodigal son" realized (once he came to himself) that he must "return to his Father": 

¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you"...

The prodigal son realized - that his "father" had "more than enough" (after the son had squandered all of his father's money). The prodigal son- came to the "end of himself"!  He had a moment of  humbleness, clarification and reflection! Many times in life, we have to come to the "end" of our strength, our knowledge, our efforts - and turn to GOD, our Father.

When disappointments, struggles and confusion occur in our lives ...we must continue to "look to GOD"! We MUST CONTINUE TO TRUST GOD! We are not in control! GOD IS IN CONTROL! HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR LIVES! As His children, HE is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28)! 

GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US!
GOD IS IN CONTROL!...WE MUST YIELD OUR LIVES AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE OVER TO GOD! WE MUST SEEK GOD FIRST AND TRUST HIM as stated in Proverbs 3: 5-6:

Proverbs 3:5-6

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Personally, in my darkest and saddest moments...I, too, had to be like "the prodigal son", and return to "MY FATHER" IN HEAVEN...and admit my weakness, my foolish thinking and actions, admit my misunderstanding, confess my mistakes and my sins. Once I returned to MY FATHER AND PUT HIM FIRST...I regained what my heavenly FATHER "HAD ALL THE TIME" AND  I "FOUND" WHAT I WAS SEEKING AFTER!

GOD, OUR FATHER... IS OUR SUFFICIENCY AND OUR PROVIDER! HE PROVIDES ALL THAT WE NEED! HE BLESSES US WITH CONTENTMENT, PEACE, JOY AND ALL THE PROVISIONS WE NEED...

MOST IMPORTANTLY, GOD, OUR FATHER GAVE US HIS BEST - HIS SON, JESUS!

 JESUS LOVES US...HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FOR US! JOHN 3:16 STATES:

John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

JESUS IS  OUR SAVIOR, FRIEND, REDEEMER, COMFORTER, BURDEN BEARER, PROVIDER...INTERCESSOR....HE IS "WHATEVER WE NEED HIM TO BE" FOR US "PERSONALLY" AND "COLLECTIVELY"!  IF WE BELIEVE IN HIM AND ACCEPT HIM AS OUR LORD AND  SAVIOR - HE CAN DO FOR US WHAT "NOBODY" ELSE CAN DO!

LET US... LET "HIS WILL" BE "OUR WILL" IN OUR LIVES EVERYDAY - AND LET US  LIVE THE "BLESSED" LIVES THAT GOD UNIQUELY DESIGNED AND CREATED US FOR!

PLEASE ENJOY THE BELOW INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO AND SONG (with lyrics) SUNG BY TYE TRIBBETT FEATURING KJ SCRIVEN, ENTITLED "WHAT CAN I DO".


(I do not own the rights to this song.)

(If you can't see the below video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "View web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message - please scroll down to the "end" of the message to view the video. Please press play to enjoy the song/video.)


BE BLESSED!

Walk By Faith - You Are In His Hands - Phil. 3:12

^{This is Namma for Christ with the forty-fourth inspirational message}

^{dated Tuesday, December 31st, 2013.  The title of this message is,} 

^{"Walk By} Faith - You Are In His Hands - Phil. 3:12". 

 This message is based on the below

 ^{scripture text of  Philippians 3:12 as found in  the New Testament  (NKJV):}

Philippians 3:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

I'd like to share the inspirational message I read for 12/31/13, as found in RBC's "Our Daily Bread":

This message encouraged me...I hope that it may also encourage you, as well...to remember that YOU ARE IN THE LORD'S HANDS! YOU ARE HIS CHILD! HE LOVES YOU AND "HIS WORD" SAYS - HE WILL "NEVER" LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU - as the below scripture states in Hebrews 13:5 :

Hebrews 13:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you."

OUR DAILY BREAD

 IN HIS GRIP

December 31, 2013 — by David H. Roper

I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Philippians 3:12

(Read Romans 8:31-39)

When we cross a busy street with small children in tow, we put out our hand and say, “Hold on tight,” and our little ones grasp our hand as tightly as they can. But we would never depend on their grasp. It is our grip on their hand that holds them and keeps them secure. So Paul insists, “Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). Or more exactly, “Christ has a grip on me!”
One thing is certain: It is not our grip on God that keeps us safe, but the power of Jesus' grasp.

No one can take us out of His grasp—not the devil, not even ourselves. Once we’re in His hands, He will not let go.
We have this assurance: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).


Doubly safe: Our Father on one side and our Lord and Savior on the other, clasping us in a viselike grip. These are the hands that shaped the mountains and oceans and flung the stars into space. Nothing in this life or the next “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).

Father, I thank You for the nail-pierced hands
that reached out in love and took me by my hand.
You have led me by Your right hand throughout life.
I trust You to hold me and keep me safe to the end.

The One who saved us is the One who keeps us.

Also - please read the below scripture as mentioned in the above message - Romans 8:31-39 :

Romans 8:31-39

New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remember...GOD LOVES YOU....JESUS IS YOUR SAVIOR....LIVE FOR HIM AND LET HIM LIVE IN YOU...LET THE "LORD'S WILL" BE DONE IN YOUR LIFE...EVERYDAY!

BE BLESSED!


(I do not own the rights to this song.)

Please enjoy one of my favorite Christian artists...."Jeremy Camp" as he sings one of my favorite Christian inspirational songs (originally written by him)..."Walk By Faith" (with lyrics):

Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Luke 2:10-11 and Luke 2:16-17

^{This is Namma for Christ with the forty-third inspirational message dated Tuesday, December 10th, 2013.  The title of this message is:}

 Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Luke 2:10-11 and Luke 2:16-17.

This message is based on the below scripture text found in the

 

book of Luke from the New Testament (KJV):

Luke 2:10-11

King James Version (KJV)

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Below is the background scripture of the above four verses that describe the scenario in Luke when the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and announced Jesus' birth and the angel declared  "the good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people":

Luke 2:8-17

King James Version (KJV)

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

This is the time of year when we celebrate the greatest gift ever given to mankind: JESUS! THIS IS CHRISTMAS TIME!

JESUS WAS BORN! GOD GAVE US HIS SON! 

As Luke 2:11 states:


¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.


This is a time of true celebration of God's love for us...


This is a time of reflection to ask ourselves "personally" what does this season of giving mean to us and what does JESUS mean to us.


NEVER FORGET - GOD LOVES YOU! 


God loves us so much that He gave us JESUS! As John 3:16 states below:

John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Because of GOD's great love for us...we have JESUS....our LORD and SAVIOR, OUR REDEEMER, OUR BURDEN BEARER, OUR HEALER, OUR PROTECTOR, OUR DEFENDER, OUR PROVIDER, OUR INTERCESSOR, "OUR EVERYTHING...JESUS IS "ALL" THAT WE NEED HIM TO BE IN OUR LIVES"! HOW BLESSED WE ARE!

WHAT AN AWESOME, GREAT , LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD THAT WE SERVE! 


GOD LOVED US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE US HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN JESUS...SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE!


WHAT GREAT LOVE GOD HAS FOR HIS CHILDREN!


 THE LORD'S VERY NAME - EMMANUEL - MEANS "GOD WITH US"!


HE IS WITH US...WE ARE NOT ALONE....GOD IS WITH US....


WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, GIVE IT TO THE LORD...HE LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU! BELIEVE IN JESUS, TRUST HIM WITH YOUR LIFE AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN YOUR LIFE!



NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD - AS THE BELOW VERSE CONFIRMS!

Luke 1:37

King James Version (KJV)

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

THANK THE LORD FOR HIS MANY BLESSINGS...


PLEASE REMEMBER "JESUS"...TRULY IS ..."THE REASON FOR THE SEASON"!


LIVE FOR JESUS... SHARE WITH OTHERS ALL THAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU, AND ASK THE LORD HOW YOU CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS! EVERYDAY ASK THE LORD, MAY "HIS WILL" BE DONE IN YOUR LIFE! LET HIS HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE AND DIRECT YOUR EVERY STEP!


CELEBRATE JESUS EVERYDAY...PRAISE HIS NAME! HE IS THE GREATEST GIFT THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN! LET US SHARE, LIVE FOR AND CELEBRATE JESUS!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Please enjoy the below video and song, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" by Chris Tomlin:

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

BLESSED BE YOUR NAME & GIVE THANKS - PSALM 34:1

This is Namma for Christ with the forty-second inspirational message dated Monday, November 25th, 2013.  The title of this message is: BLESSED BE YOUR NAME & GIVE THANKS - PSALM 34:1.  The title of this message is taken from the below scripture from the Old Testament book of Psalm 34 verse 1 (KJV):

Psalm 34:1

King James Version (KJV)

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

The above bible verse is what David said when he expressed his praise to the Lord. David provides an example to "all of us" - as believers in God.

WE SHOULD BLESS THE LORD AT "ALL" TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHOULD CONTINUALLY BE IN OUR MOUTHS! 

GOD HAS BEEN "SO GOOD" TO US! JUST THE VERY FACT THAT WE ARE "ALIVE" - IS "PROOF" OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD! BECAUSE OF GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY - WE ARE ALIVE!  

As Lamentations 3:22 state below - It is because of God's mercies, we are not consumed:

Lamentations 3:22

King James Version (KJV)

²² It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

GOD'S COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT! GOD LOVES US AND FORGIVES US OF OUR SINS WHEN WE HUMBLY CONFESS THEM TO HIM! HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT US.... BECAUSE HE MADE US!

Please read the following verse in Lamentations 3:23 - GOD'S MERCIES FOR US ARE "NEW EVERY MORNING!" GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!

Lamentations 3:23

King James Version (KJV)

²³ They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.

GOD LOVES US...HE WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US...HE HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON US!  

GOD IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!  WE HAVE SO MUCH TO THANK GOD FOR!

GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR US ....... AS JEREMIAH 29: 11 CONFIRMS:

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

BECAUSE OF GOD'S GREAT  LOVE FOR US - WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE! WE ARE BLESSED BY GOD TO HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO: SERVE GOD, TO LIVE FOR GOD, TO THANK GOD, TO HONOR AND PRAISE GOD! ALWAYS REMEMBER - GOD'S GREATEST DISPLAY OF LOVE TO US WAS GIVEN TO US BY HIS GIVING US HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST,

OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!

BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S LOVE FOR US - WE SHOULD "ALWAYS" GIVE THANKS TO OUR LORD!  PRAISE THE LORD! GIVE THANKS TO HIM! HE IS GREATLY TO BE PRAISED! PSALM 136: 1 REMINDS US (BELOW) - TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD:

Psalm 136

King James Version (KJV)

136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BELOW VIDEO (WITH LYRICS) OF MATT REDMAN SINGING PRAISES TO OUR LORD IN HIS INSPIRATIONAL WORSHIP SONG, "BLESSED BE YOUR NAME".

SING ALONG....SING PRAISES TO OUR LORD....AND GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD!

(If you can't see the above video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "view web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message - Please press play to enjoy the song/video).

(I do not own the rights to this song.)
 

BE BLESSED!

GOD KNOWS US AND LOVES US - "BETTER" - Romans 5:8

This is Namma for Christ with the forty-first inspirational message dated Saturday, October 26th, 2013.  The title of this message is, GOD KNOWS US AND LOVES US - "BETTER" - Romans 5:8.  The title of this message is taken from the below scripture from the New Testament book of Romans (NKJV):

Romans 5:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

For many years, I have enjoyed reading the daily inspirational messages as provided by RBC Ministries in their publications of "OUR DAILY BREAD".  Yesterday, I read the message for the day (dated Friday, October 25th) and found it to be so beautiful and inspiring, I wanted to share it with you (see the below message). RBC Ministries has the website of:  www.rbc.org so that you can read and enjoy life-changing wisdom of daily inspirational messages based on scripture from the Bible. 

Our Daily Bread

Friday,
October 25, 2013

Loving And Knowing

Read: Romans 5:6-11

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8

In a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, one of the characters, speaking of New York’s Empire State Building, said, “I know this building because I love this building.”

That statement caused me to think about the relationship between love and knowledge. Whenever we love something, we want to know everything about it. When we love a place, we want to explore every inch of it. When we love a person, we want to know every detail of his or her life. We want to know what he likes, how she spends her time, where he grew up, who her friends are, what he believes. The list is endless. But some of us want to be loved without allowing ourselves to be known. We’re afraid that we won’t be loved if we are truly known.

We don’t have to worry about that with God. His love is far superior to ours: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Furthermore, He makes Himself known to us. Through creation, Scripture, and Christ, God reveals His character and His love. Because God loves us in spite of our imperfections, we can safely confess our faults to Him. With God, we need not fear being known. That’s why to know God is to love Him. — Julie Ackerman Link

Be still and know that He is God
For pathways steep and rough,
Not what He brings, but what He is
Will always be enough. —Anon.

There is no greater joy than to know that God loves us.

The scripture, as taken from Romans 5:8, has always been one of my favorite verses because it tells of GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US.

This verse states that GOD "DEMONSTRATES" HIS OWN LOVE TOWARDS US...IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS....CHRIST DIED FOR US!  IT WAS "NO GOOD" (WORKS) THAT WE'VE DONE, OR "EVER" COULD DO...TO EARN GOD'S GREAT LOVE TOWARDS US....THE BIBLE STATES IN ROMANS 3:23 & 24 - "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD;  BEING JUSTIFIED "FREELY" BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS."

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!

LOVE  IS ALL ABOUT JESUS!

GOD'S LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED  BY JESUS SHEDDING HIS BLOOD ON CALVARY'S CROSS FOR ALL OF US AND IN HOW JESUS' RESURRECTION OVER DEATH - FOR "ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM AND ACCEPT HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR"!

TRUE LOVE IS ABOUT GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY FOR US!  TRUE LOVE IS ABOUT HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US!  NEVER FORGET - GOD LOVES YOU!

GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT JOHN 3:16 (KJV) TELLS US OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US:

John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BELOW VIDEO AND SONG, "BETTER", PERFORMED BY TYE TRIBBETT:

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!

GOD'S ABLE: "IF HE DID IT BEFORE" - DANIEL 3:17-18

This is Namma for Christ with the fortieth inspirational message dated Wednesday, September 25th, 2013.  The title of this message is, "GOD'S ABLE: "IF HE DID IT BEFORE" - DANIEL 3:17-18".  The title of this message is taken from the below scripture when the three Hebrew boys (who were friends of Daniel, who also were captives in Babylon) courageously answer King  Nebuchadnezzar. The young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego- declare that their "GOD IS ABLE" TO DELIVER THEM OUT OF THE FIERY FURNACE  (that Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be cast into).

Daniel 3:17-18

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
¹⁸ But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.


I would encourage all believers to take the time to read this entire bible story found in the first three chapters of Daniel. The message for today is focusing on how GOD IS ABLE!  

NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH....GOD IS ABLE TO HELP YOU! HE IS ABLE TO DELIVER YOU! GOD IS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOU! GOD IS "ABLE" TO DO WHATEVER YOU NEED HIM TO DO FOR YOU! YOU MUST BELIEVE IN HIM AND TRUST GOD TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU!

 The beginning of chapter three of Daniel describes how Nebuchadnezzar had made a golden statue ninety feet tall. An announcement was made to everyone to worship the statue "or" be thrown in the furnace.  Everyone worshiped the idol, except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 

THEY STOOD UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN! THEY REFUSED TO BOW DOWN TO A FALSE GOD! THEY STOOD ON THEIR FAITH AND BELIEF IN GOD THAT "HE WAS ABLE" TO "DELIVER" THEM FROM THEIR TROUBLE...FROM DANGER....FROM WHAT WAS "THREATENING" TO THEM!

LOOK AT WHAT THEY SAID IN OUR SCRIPTURE FROM DANIEL 3:17-18  :

¹⁷ If it be so, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
¹⁸ But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

THEY HAD FAITH THAT GOD, WHOM THEY SERVED, IS ABLE TO DELIVER THEM FROM THE FIERY FURNACE "AND" FROM OUT OF THE KING'S HAND! ALSO, THEY TRUSTED THAT IF GOD "DID NOT" - THEY "STILL" WOULD "NOT" BOW DOWN TO WORSHIP THE IDOL - NOR SERVE OTHER GODS!

What happens next is found in the following scripture from Daniel 3: 19-25  :

Daniel 3:19-25

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
²⁰ And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
²¹ Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
²² Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
²⁵ He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

GOD NEVER LEFT  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! HE WAS WITH THEM! THE SAME GOD THAT "DELIVERED" THEM "IS" THE SAME GOD - WHO IS WITH US!

 IF WE ARE THE LORD'S -  HE WILL BE WITH US AND HELP US...NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH!

King Nebuchadnezzar, who threw them in the fire, later praised their God for "delivering" them (see below) from Daniel 3: 28  :

Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent His  angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's
 word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."

The below scriptures tell how GOD DELIVERED AND PROMOTED Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They walked out of the furnace and were not burned, neither did they smell of fire!

King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
²⁷ And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
²⁹ Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

NEVER FORGET - GOD IS WITH YOU...HE IS ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS, BUT FAIL!

Please enjoy the below video and song by Tye Tribbett -  "If He Did It Before...Same God" from his new 2013 album entitled, "Greater Than". Please enjoy and....''

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!

Every Praise - My Deliverer - 1st Sam. 17:45-47

This is Namma for Christ with the thirty-ninth inspirational message dated Monday, September 9th, 2013.  The title of this message is, Every Praise - My Deliverer - 1st Sam. 17:45-47. The title of this message is taken from the below scriptures in which David (while still a youth) declares that the Lord will "deliver" the Philistine giant, Goliath, "into mine hand" (into David's hand) and GOD will get the glory:

1 Samuel 17:45-47

King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁵ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
⁴⁶ This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷ And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands.

I would encourage all believers to take the time to read the entire chapter of 1st Samuel 17, it's a great bible story - of how God used David to defeat Goliath. This is a story I first learned as a child in my Sunday School class. No matter what your age, this story is so uplifting, encouraging  and  inspirational...it tells of how God can use you in a powerful way...no matter what your age, status or condition is.

Look at the below bible verse (found in 1st Samuel 17:33) in which King Saul tried to discourage or put down what David could do - based on his (Saul's) misjudgment of "only looking at David" and not looking at what "GOD CAN DO - BY USING DAVID!

³³ And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

READ BELOW TO SEE  DAVID'S RESPONSE (found in 1st Samuel 17: 34-37  KJV):

1 Samuel 17:34-37

King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

³⁷ David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

DAVID REMEMBERED HOW GOD HAD "DELIVERED" HIM BEFORE!

DAVID HAD FAITH IN GOD TO DELIVER HIM - AGAIN!

DAVID DEPENDED ON "GOD'S STRENGTH AND POWER" TO DEFEAT "WHATEVER" CAME UP AGAINST HIM! DAVID BELIEVED GOD WOULD GIVE HIM THE VICTORY!

DAVID KNEW THAT HE MUST GIVE "ALL THE GLORY FOR THE VICTORY TO GOD"!

THE LORD WAS WITH DAVID!

THE LORD WILL BE WITH US - NO MATTER "WHATEVER" COMES UP AGAINST US! 

WE SHOULD DO LIKE DAVID DID:  WE MUST REMEMBER HOW GOD HAS BEEN WITH US BEFORE!

 WE MUST TRUST IN GOD AND LEAN ON OUR LORD FOR "HIS" STRENGTH AND POWER!

WE MUST GIVE THE LORD THE PRAISE AND GLORY FOR WHAT HE DOES IN OUR LIVES!

BELOW IS THE SCRIPTURE TEXT (1st SAMUEL 17: 45-51  - NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION) THAT SHOWS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER DAVID DEPENDED ON GOD FOR VICTORY:

1 Samuel 17:45-51

New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”
⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND DEPEND ON OUR LORD TO USE US FOR HIS GLORY! WE MUST YIELD OURSELVES TO THE LORD FOR "HIS WILL" - TO BE DONE!


JESUS SAID IN HEBREWS 13:5b  - "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE".

GENESIS 18: 14a  (below) REMINDS US: 

Genesis 18:14

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord?

DON'T FORGET (ROMANS 8: 31 below) TELLS US - IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US! 

ALSO,  ROMANS 8:32 REMINDS US OF THE GREAT LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US THAT HE GAVE US HIS SON, JESUS: 

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³² He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

THE LORD IS WITH YOU!

DEPEND ON GOD, NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE FACING!

ALWAYS REMEMBER - GOD IS OUR DELIVERER! 

BE BLESSED!


PLEASE ENJOY THE INCLUDED "ANOINTED" SONG AND VIDEO ENTITLED, "EVERY PRAISE", BY HEZEKIAH WALKER. THERE ARE LYRICS IN THIS SONG THAT SAY: "GOD, MY SAVIOR!...GOD, MY HEALER!...GOD, MY DELIVERER! YES, HE IS!...YES, HE IS!"

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

PLEASE SING ALONG, BE ENCOURAGED AND BE BLESSED!